Spacer for produce containers



June 6, 1961 w. B. CRANE SPACER RoR PRODUCE CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 1958 INV ENTOR.

WAL ro/v June 6, 1961 v w. B. CRANE 2,987,198

SPACER FOR PRODUCE CONTAINERS Filed Aug. l, 1958 2 Sheelzs-.Sheel'l 2 United States Patent A,

2,987,198 SPACER FOR PRODUCE CONTAINERS Walton B. Crane, South Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Allied Plastics Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a cor# poration of California Filed Aug. 1, 1958, Ser. No. 752,477 6 Claims. (Cl. 21410.5)

This invention relates to a spacer for interconnecting certain types of produce containers when they are stackedY for storage or shipment.

Brietly stated, the produce container with which this invention is concerned consists of a rectangular cardboard structure having double panel end walls. In use, the containers, after being lled with produce, are handled in units, each consisting of a stacked pair of containers. During storage and shipment, several of these units are stacked one on top of the other in a series of vertical columns arranged side-by-side so as to form a container stack.

'I'he pair of containers in each unit are joined by a set of wire couplers which serve to restrain the containers against relative shifting during handling. These couplers project above the upper container of the unit for engagement with yan adjacent upper unit in ya stacked column of container units. These couplers, therefore, restrain the containers in each unit against shifting and also restrain the several stacked units against shifting.

A broad object of the present invention is the provision of a spacer for interconnecting adjacent stacked columns of. container units of the character described to prevent relative shifting thereof dunng storage and shipment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a spacer of the character described which is designedto hold adjacent columns of stacked container units in spaced relation so as to maintain ventilation spaces between the columns.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a spacer of the character described which is designed to facilitate stacking of the container units.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a spacer of the character described which is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise especially well suited to its intended function.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

, The invention may be best understood from the fol-lowing description thereof taken in connection with the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a view in perspective of a pair of produce containers of the type with which the present spacer is intended to, be used, the containers being illustrated prior to assembly thereof to form a container unit;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view of the containers of FIG. l after assembly thereof to form a container unit; FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the presen-t spacer;

FIG. 5 isa view illustrating a pair of the present spacers installed in stacks of container units;

FIG. 6 is a View looking in the direction of the arrows on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a stack of produce containers which are spaced by the spacer of this invention;

FIG.,9 is a view of a modified form of the present spacer; and

FIG. l0 is a view in perspective illustrating the spacer of FIG. 9 assembled on produce containers.

Referring now to FIGS. l to 3 of these drawings, th container 20 with which the present spacer is intended to be used will be lseen to comprise a generally rectangular v ice structure which may be fabricated from cardboard, for example. I

This container has a pair of end walls 22, a pair of side walls 24, a central partition 26, and a bottom wall 28. l

In use, couplers 36 `are inserted through the end open-v ings 32 and 34 of a container 20 and extend between the end vwall panels 22a and 22h 'of the container, as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 3. The upper ends of the couplers extend a` substantial distance above the upper edge of the container. The lower end of the couplers have recesses for receiving the bottom wall of a container and outwardly bent legs 38 which engage against the bottom side of the bottom wall, in the manner shown in FIG. 2.

As preliminarily mentioned, the containers 20, when -lled with produce, are handled in stacked pairs or units. Each of these units is formed by placing one container on top of another container mounting a pair of the couplers 36. In the assembled positions of the pair of containers, the upper extending ends of the couplers 36 in the lower container extend through the upper container end openings 32 and 34. 'I'he curved upper ends of the couplersV project a short distance above the upper edge of the upper container. When stacking a series of the containerunits, an upper unit is placed on a lower unit in such. a way that the upper extending ends of the couplers are inserted into the lower end openings 32 of the upper unit.

During storage and shipment, several of these units are stacked to form a series of vertical columns 42 as illustrated in FIG. 8. It is desirable, for reasons well understood in the art, that ventilation spaces 44 be providedA between the several container columns. In order to pre-v vent closing of these ventilation spaces, the several container columns must be interconnected to prevent relative shifting thereof, especially during shipment.

about.

FIG. 4 illustrates the present spacer 46 which is designed to interconnect the container columns for theseY purposes. Spacer 46 comprises a strip 48 of suitable materia1l,such as cardboard. This strip has a rst row of spaced, longitudinally aligned slots 50. One edge of the strip 48 is formed with a second row of longitudinally aligned slots or notches 52, each transversely aligned with one of the slots 50. The width of the bottoms 54 of the notches 52 is substantially equal to the length of the slots 50. This dimension of .the slots 50 and notches 52 isv madey just slightly greater than the width of the upper ends of the couplers 36. The aps 56 dened between notches 52 are made flexible by a perforated or scored line 58.

Slots 50 and notches 52 are equally spaced lengthwise of the strip 48 a distance B. This distance is greater than the Width C of the containers 20 by an amount equal to the width of the ventilation space 44 which is to be maintained between the container columns 42. line of the left-hand slot and notch 52, as the spacer is viewed in FIG. 4, is spaced from the left-hand end of the' strip a distance which is approximately equal to one-half' of the container width C. Finally, the center line of theV right-hand slot 50 and notch 52 is spaced from the right end `of the spacer a distance D. As presently will beV Patented .lune 6, 1961,

Such' interconnecting of the container columns is also desirable to prevent the latter from tipping or otherwise moving' The center seen, this lengthwise spacing of the slots and notches provides for retention of the ventilation spaces 44 between the container columns 42.

v VIn order to insure adequate ventilation of all the containers in a stack, it is necessary that a ventilation space 44 be maintained between adjacent columns of containers in a transverse direction of the spacers Y46. To this end, the spacing E between each of the slots 50` and the bottom edge 54 of its aligned notch 52 is made approximately equal to twice the spacing F in FIG. 3 between each of the couplers 32 and the outer surface of the adjacent container end wall 22, plus the width of the ventilation space 44.

In use of the present spacer, when stacking a group of containers on a truck bed, for example, a iirst transverse row of container units are placed along the forward edge of the truck bed in the manner illustrated in solid lines of FIG. 6. This bottom row of container units is then interconnected by spacers 46 as follows.

The projecting upper end of a coupler 36 on the lefthand container unit is inserted through the left-hand slot 50 in a spacer 46. The projecting upper ends of the couplers 36 on the other container units in the row are then inserted through the remaining slots 50 in the spacer.

Assuming that each spacer is formed with three notches and three slots and the iirst row contains six units, as illustrated, the three left-hand units in the row will be interconnected by one spacer. The left-hand end of this spacer terminates substantially flush with the` left-,hand side wall of the extreme left container unit. 'I'he dimension D of the spacer is made such that the right end of the latter will overlap the top or Yfourth container unit from the left in the manner shown, but terminate short of the coupler 36 on the latter unit.

A second spacer is now placed over the upstanding ends of the couplers on the three right-hand container units. In this case, however, the spaceris turned end-forend with respect to the spacer on theV three left container units. The left end of the n'ght spacer overlaps the third container unit from the left, as shown. Y

Additional container units are-now stacked on top of this bottom row of container units, in the manner shown in FIGS. and 8. The several container columns thus formed may be interconnected at one or more positions therealong, depending upon their height, by additional spacers. It will be observed in FIG. 5 that when the containenunits are stacked in this fashion, the upperV units'rest on the overlappingends of the spacers so as to effectively prevent relative shifting of the three left-hand and three right-hand groups of 'containers which are joined by the spacers. It will also be observed that the overlapping of the spacer ends permits limited adjustment Y f into place in such a way that the couplers engage in the notches 52 inthe spacers of the rst row. Engagement ofthe couplers with the bottom edges 54 of -the notches automatically spaces vthe rst and second rows because of the aforementioned relationship between the spacer ndimension E and container dimension F.

Rows of upper container units are now' placed von this second `lower row of units, in fthe manner illustrated in FIG. 7. The exibility aiorded to the spacer-aps f5.6 by

the scored lines 5S accommodates upward hinging of theAV flaPSt as illustrated in phantom lines of FIG. 7, vto permit Yplacing of the upper container units over the couplers von the lower units.

vIt will be observed that the upper containers inthe seeondrow rest on the aps 56 of the spacers inthe -rst row. The container units in the first and second rows as well as succeeding rows are thereby frictionally interlocked against relative shifting.

The above stacking procedure is continued until the desired number of container units have been stacked. FIG- URE 8 illustrates a portion of a completed container stack. The 4fore and aft and lateral ventilation spacngs 44 which are maintained between adjacent container columns `42 by the present spacers may be readily observed. Each container column is thus spaced on all four sides from adjacent container columns so as to assure adequate ventilation of the produce in the containers. The several container columns are frictionally and positively interconnected against relative shifting so that closing of the ventilation spaces 44 as well as tipping of the columns is effectively prevented.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modied form of the present spacer which is especially designed for use on smaller container.

stacks such as are transported on a fork lift truck., This modilied spacer comprises a rod 100. Welded to this rod, at equally spaced positions therealong, are three rectangular frames 102. These frames may be formed, for example, by bending a rod into the rectangular shape illustrated.

Rod is joined to and bisects the shorter sides of the rectangular frames 102. Accordingly, the rod 100 and frames -102 define pairs of rectangular openings 104 spaced along the rod.

In use of the modiiied spacer, the upstanding ends ofthe container couplers 36 are inserted through the rectangular spacer openings 104 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 10. The several columns of containers are thereby interconnected against relative shifting or tipping during transit on a fork lift truck, for example.

It will be apparent, therefore, that there has been described and illustrated a spacer which is fully capable of attaining the objects and advantages preliminarily set forth. While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, numerous modifications in design and arrangement of parts of the invention will be readily apparent within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A spacer for containers of the character described, comprising a long narrow paperboard strip having a row lof spaced, collinear slots extending lengthwise of the strip, one Vlongitudinal edge of the strip having notches approximately aligned crosswise of theV strip with said slots, respectively, said slots and notches having approximately the same length, and said strip being scored to form a fold line approximately aligned with the inner longitudinal` edges of Vsaid notches, the edgeportions of the strip bctween said notches forming exible aps which are hingcable about said fold line. a Y

2,. A spacer according to claim l in which the end edges. of eaoh notch-diverge toward said one edge of the strip.

3. A'spacer according to claim l in which said slots and notches Vare approximately equally spaced along the strip,`

the spacing between one end of the strip and the center of the adjacent slot and notch being approximately one half thecenter spacing between adjacent slots and notches, and the spacing between the other end of the strip and thecenter of the adjacent slot and notch being greater than one half said center spacing. Y

4. In combination, two parallel rows of rectangular produce containers, each including two oppositeV end walls and two opposite side walls, a wire coupler carried on each container end wall, each coupler being 4located mid- Vway between the container sidewalls and having an Yend Vprojectingabove the` upperfedge of the respective end' wall, said containers being arranged with said end walls parallel to the rows ofA containers and with Ythe containers inv one row aligned with and located closely adjacent to the containers in ythe other row, and a spacer comprising a f rigid elongate member extending lengthwise of Vsaidrows across the upper edges of the opposing end walls of [the containers in the two rows, said spacer having two rows of collinear slots extending lengthwise of the member and receiving said projecting ends of the couplers, respectively, the center distance between adjacent slots being greater than one container width whereby the containers in each row are spaced.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said spacer member comprises a long, narrow paperboard strip, and one Irow of said slots comprises notches in one longitudinal edge of the strip.

6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said spacer member comprises a long, narrow paperboard strip and one row of said slots comprises notches in one longitudinal edge of the strip, said strip being scored to form a fold line approximately aligned with the inner longitudinal edges of said notches whereby the portions of the strip between the notches are hingeable about said fold line to facilitate positioning the ends of the containers in one row under the strip.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,321,204 Haig NOV. 11, 1919 1,574,895 Johnson Mar. 2, 1926 2,589,718 Martin --.Man 18, 1952 2,868,430 Hamilton Jan. 13, 1959 

